Christie’s to offer works by Iranian artists

It is still early days, but the consignments already secured are an encouraging sign for another successful season with a good balance between modern and contemporary works."
Managing Director of Christie’s Middle East, Michael Jeha

Christie’s will offer a collection of works by Iranian artists during its Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish Art sale in Dubai.
The sale will auction works by Reza Derakshani, Shirazeh Houshiary, Shoja Azari, Shahram Karimi, Hadieh Shafieh and Pouran Jinchi at the Emirates Towers Hotel on October 23 and 24, 2012.
“It is still early days, but the consignments already secured are an encouraging sign for another successful season with a good balance between modern and contemporary works,” Artdaily quoted Managing Director of Christie’s Middle East Michael Jeha as saying.
One of the higher value secured lots is Reza Derakshani’s Sensibility Green with a presale estimate of USD 70,000-90,000.
The painting is an oil and enamel work created with a spectrum of greens across the canvas.
Other highlights include works by Lebanese masters Paul Guiragossian, Chafic Abboud and Camille Zakaria.
North African art will be presented by works of Algeria’s Abdallah Benanteur and Morocco’s Hassan Hajjaj.
The sale will also present the last work of Turkish artist Ahmet Elhan, which is estimated at USD 50,000-80,000. The large polyptych is a combination of thousands of photographic frames taken of public spaces such as religious locations, underpasses and schools.
Works by Iran’s Shirazeh Houshiary, Shoja Azari, Shahram Karimi, Hadieh Shafieh and Pouran Jinchi will be sold as part of the auction’s part II sale to benefit Caspian Arts Foundation.
Launched as a non-profit organization in 2011, the Foundation sponsors young artists and students from the Middle East and North Africa to complete their postgraduate studies in the visual arts at University of the Arts London.
“Caspian Arts Foundation has the potential to play its part in connecting the East with the West and bridge the gap between culture, language & tradition,” said Foundation’s founder Nina Mahdavi.
Due to the volume of applications and interest from the MENA region, the Foundation wishes to raise funds for 5 additional full scholarships to be awarded in 2013.
TE/TE